On the afternoon of July 16, a delegation led by Sophia Papaioannou, Vice Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, visited Henan University (HENU). Zhang Ligang, Vice President of HENU, met with the guests at the Longzihu Campus in Zhengzhou. Heads of relevant departments including the International Affairs Office, the School of Nanoscience and Materials Engineering, and the Eurasia International School attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Li Qiuye, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Office.

First, Zhang Ligang extended a warm welcome to Sophia Papaioannou and her delegation. He introduced the history and international development of HENU. Additionally, Zhang Ligang noted that the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens is the oldest institution of higher education in Greece with a profound academic heritage. Moreover, he expressed the expectation that both universities would take this visit as an opportunity to promote student and faculty exchanges, scientific research cooperation, and joint training programs in fields such as materials science.

Sophia Papaioannou expressed her gratitude to HENU and shared an overview of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, including its historical development and current standing. She stated that the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens boasts innovative research capabilities and an international perspective, and is committed to promoting global educational cooperation. She stated her desire to leverage both universities’ disciplinary strengths to pioneer new models of talent cultivation through future collaboration.

During the discussion session, both parties engaged in in-depth exchanges on issues such as student exchanges and scientific research cooperation.

Subsequently, in the presence of representatives from both institutions, Zhang Ligang and Sophia Papaioannou signed a Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of their respective universities, marking the imminent launch of comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two institutions.